Handle attachment for containers



Aug. 14, 1951 'r. H; WARD HANDLE ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS 2Sheets-Sheet l 7 Filed July 22, 1947 INVENTOR. TR/4C Y h. I/VARD Aug.14, 1951 4 WARD 2,564,043

HANDLE ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS Filed July 2 2, 1947 2. Sheets-Sheet 2IN VEN TOR. TRACY H. MRO

' A TTOE/VEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 3Claims. 1

- This invention relates to a holder attachment for use in connectionwith containers, such as paint cans, water pails, and the like.

The primary purposes of my invention are to provide a rigid holderattachment of simple, inexpensive construction which may readily befitted upon a container having a bail to ive a rigid handle'for thecontainer in lieu of the bail and to retain-the bail to one side of thecontainer opening, thus permitting easy access to the containercontents.

A secondary purpose is to provide with such a holderintegral auxiliaryconveniences needed by a painter in order effectively to coordinate hisvarious tasks. One such feature is the provision of a brush handle clampon the handle of the holder device to facilitate carrying the brush andcontainer in ladder work and the like. Another convenience is theprovision of a putty tray as an integral part of the holder.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain structure embodying theinvention, such disclosed structure constituting, however, but two ofvarious forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of a holder attachment fitted upon acontainer shown in fragment;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the holder with the locking handle shown in twopositions as shown by the solid and dotted lines;

Fig 3 is a fragmentary perspective view from the front of the holder andtray;

Fig. 4' is a perspective view of a modified form of a holder for waterpails; and

' Fig. 5 is a side view of the holder shown in Fig. 4 fitted upon pailsof two sizes.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there are shown various views of a preferred form ofmy invention in conjunction with a conventional paint can I5.

The principal structural element of the holder is a rigid strap,normally of metal, and identified generally by the letter A. This strapis of sufficient dimension, cross section, and stiffness to retain itsform when suspending containers of paint, of say, one half and onegallon sizes, and of a weight of approximately 25 pounds. An uprightportion l6 of this strap A is adapted to bear against the outside Wallof a container.

Extending laterally from the upright portion I8 is a shoulder portion I!of the strap which is adapted to project above the interior of thecontainer IS. The portion I! has a vertical part l8 adapted to retainthe bail H! of the container l5 to one side of the opening thereof, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The upper part of the strap A provides a hook or handle portion 20 inthe form of a loop'projecting above the laterally extending segment I1and opening outwardly of the container.

To the closed portion 2| of the hook or handle 20 there is securelyattached (by Welding or other suitable means). a brush handle holder 22in the form of a spring clamp.

At the lower end of the upright portion 16 of the strap I have attacheda putty tray 23. The inner side of this tray which fits against the sideof the container may be curved to conform to the container shape asindicated by the view shown in Fig. 2.

In the clamping mechanism, generally identihad by the letter C, employedto secure the strap A to the side of a container, I have provided avertically depending clamping jaw 24 having its lower portion angularlyinclined toward the container wall opposite the strap upright, means forpivotally hinging the jaw upon the upright in vertical alignment, andpressure exerting means to forcibly separate the jaw and upright inbraced relationship above the pivot thereby rotating the jaw about thepivot means to bring the lower end of the jaw in braced frictionalengagement with the container wall opposite the upright.

In the specific embodiment of the clamping mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2and 3, an elongated clamping jaw 24, adapted to depend vertically intothe container, is slidably mounted by means of a horizontal slot 25 inits head 26 on the shoulder portion I! of the strap. Belowthe head 26 ofthe jaw is a neck portion 21 of reduced width adapted to accommodate acollar 29. In the lower part of the jaw, the end portion 28 departs fromthe verticality of the upper jaw to extend angularly toward thecontainer wall. Jaw and upright extend in vertical alignment.

To associate jaw and upright in hinged or pivotal relationship, abox-like collar 29 is provided to embrace both jaw neck and upright l6as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Through the side of the collar 29 adjacentthe upright, a vertically extending slot 36 allows access to acorresponding slot 3! in the upright. Through these slots a cam 32having an operating arm 33, is pivotally mounted on a journal pin 34which extends transversely through the collar and is secured to the endsthereof. Adjacent the jaw 24 and below the journal pin 3!; is a secondtransverse spacer pin 35 in the collar which serves a dual purpose. Thispin 35 keeps the jaw a spaced distance from the upright i6 and also actsas a pivot point for the jaw when the latter is opened to permitpositioning of the holder attachment upon a container. When the head 26of the jaw is slidably moved along the shoulder I! toward the upright,the lower part 28 of the jaw will be separated from the upright throughthe rotating action of the jaw on the pin 34.

The manner of operation of the cam 32 and arm 33 is illustrated in Fig.2. When this integral cam element is in the position indicated by thedot-dash lines, the clamping mechanism is open and the holder may beinserted upon or removed. from the container. When the cam is moved tothe position indicated by the dotted lines (with the visible arm beingshown in solid outline), the clamping mechanism is locked.

The cam in this latter position is at its maximumextension, and therebyforcibly spreads jaw and upright in co-operation with the collar.Pressure exerted by the cam against the jaw at 36 urges the upper partof the jaw away, and thereby forces the lower end against the containerwall at 31 with the collar 29 acting as a pivot or fulcrum. Thus it willbe seen that the upright and clamping jaw24 are rigidly braced againsteach in opposed relationship on each side of the embracing collar andabove and below the container rim, thereby providing a rigid mount forthe strap A on the container side.

Variation in the structure of an appropriate clamping mechanism may, ofcourse, be made but in essence the mechanism should include a clampingjaw pivotally associated with the upright or hinged relationship, andmeans to spread jaw and upright above the hingedjunction point to forcethe upper part of the jaw away from the upright and the lower endportion against the container wall in braced opposing relationship.

The form of the invention described above and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2and 3, is designed primarily for use in conjunction with conventionalone-half and one gallon paint cans and for twelve and one-half poundwhite lead cans. It is also adaptable for quart and intermediate sizecans. It will be seen that the clamping mechanism is adapted to operateeither over a straight edge container or over one with an annular lip.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I haveprovided a simplified holder more particularly intended for use onlarger containers such as two gallon paint cans, fifty pound white leadpails and water pails.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a holder in the form of a rigid strapidentified generally by the letter B. The upright portion 40 thereof isadapted to bear against the side of a container as shown in Fig. 5.Extending laterally from the upright portion 48 is a shoulder portion 4|which projects over the interior of the container l5. There is providedin this shoulder portion 4| a depending recess 42, the inner side 43 ofwhich has sufiicient angularity relative to the'plane of the shoulder 4!to retain the bail H! of the container in a fixed position on theshoulder to one side of the opening thereof as shown in Fig. 5.

The handle portion 44 of the holder is formed by folding the strap Bover the shoulder 4| as a reverse loop openingoutwardly of thecontainer, with the handle and shoulder in approximate axialparallelism.

While I have shown-the handle 44 of this holder as an individual partover the shoulder 4|, the latter portion is in itself well adapted to beused as a handle, with consequent elimination of the need for the upperfold portion 44 if such simplihcation is desired.

In attaching this version of the holder to a container I have employedan inverted U-shaped clamping member 45 having a centrally located slot46 in the web portion 41. The member 45 is slidably mounted upon thestrap upright 40 and is designed to fit upon the rim of the containerwith the inner leg 48 bearing against the inner wall of the container.In the outer leg 49 of the member 45 there is a threaded aperture 50.Through this aperture 50 a manually operable wing bolt 5! is engaged toexert pressure upon the strap upright 40 to clamp the inner leg 48against the container wall and thus secure the holder upon thecontainer. To prevent the member 45 from sliding off the upright 40 whenthe holder is not attached, there is provided an outwardly extendingflange 52 at the lower endof the upright. As will be clearly seen .inFig. 5, the holder is adaptable for use on different size containers,since the clamping member 45 is'slidably movable onthe upright 40.

Although not shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a brush handle clamp and .puttytray canbeattachedto the holder in the manner depicted on .thefirstsheet of drawings and explained above.

As an alternative plan and method .of attachment for a putty tray to beused for this holder on larger containers, I have provided a tray whichis slidably attached to the upright 40, above the clamping mechanism andwhich rests upon the rim of the container in the manner of a chordsegment.

To attach either of the holder forms described above to a container, itis only necessary to fit the shoulder portion of the strap underthe'bail, set the clamping means .over the rim of th container, andraise the holder vertically .until the bail is firmly retained by thevertical portions of the shoulder as at 18 and 43. The clamp means maythen be tightened and the holder is ready for use.

It-will be noted that when the'holder is securely attached tothe-container, any upward force upon the handle exerted-during liftingwill make the bail of the container a fulcrum and tend to maintain theupright portion of the strap flush against the container side. While Ihaveprovided ;a vertical-portion in the shoulder to retain the bail in aseat as it were,.once the holder strap is clamped to the side of acontainer, the bail, being of a fixed radius, will retain a tautposition .on the shoulder even without such a vertical seat due to thweight of the container and the upward lifting force upon the handle.

The advantages of my invention to a painter are very considerable. Usingmyholding he will always have free access to the contents of thecontainer since the bail is held to one side. The hook handle loop inthe preferred embodiment for use with smaller containers is particularlyadvantageous in ladder work. The painter can han his paint can by meansof the hook froma rung of the ladder-leaving both hands free. Inmounting or descending a ladderhi brush may be plaoedin the brush handleclamp and hisputty will be carried in the tray provided.

I have found that an immense saving in time and an increase inefiiciency results from the use of my invention. The convenience andsatisfaction of arduous work more easily accomplished,

together with the elimination of waste motion,

combine to convince the user of the holders efiiciency andpracticability. 7

It will be understood that the accessory features of putty tray andbrush handle clamp may be eliminated by those individualists who preferonly the advantages of the handle and holder strap proper.

Other modes of applying the principles of my invention may be employedinstead of the ones explained, changing being made as regards thestructures herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means may be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A ball holder and handle attachment for a container comprising, aunitary rigid strap having an upright portion thereof adapted to bearagainst the side of the container; a portion of the strap extendinglaterally from the upright portion and adapted to project over theinterior of the container, said laterally extending portion having avertical part adapted to seat and retain said bail to one side of thecontainer, a handle consisting of the uppermost part of the strap in theform of a loop projecting above the laterally extending portion openingoutwardly of the container, a brush holder in the form of a spring clampattached to the closed portion of the loop and projecting over theinterior of the container, a tray rigidly secured to the strap at thelower end of the upright portion, and manually operable pressureexerting means adapted to clamp the holder to the side of the container.

2. A holder attachment for a paint can or the like comprising a unitaryrigid strap having an upright portion adapted to bear against theoutside of the can, and having a portion of the strap extendinglaterally from the upright portion and being adapted to propect abovethe interior of the can, and having a handle consisting of the upperportion of said strap in the form of a loop projecting above saidlaterally extendin portion of the strap; and clamping means to securesaid upright portion of the strap rigidly to the side of the can wherebythe can may be supported solely by the strap when said handle issuspended on a support, said clamping means comprising a lever pivotallysupported to said upright portion of the strap and being adapted todepend vertically into the can, and a cam member pivotally supported onsaid upright portion of the strap and engageable with said lever forforcing one end of the lever toward the upright portion of the strapwhereby the wall of the can is gripped between said lever and saidupright portion of the strap.

3. A holder and handle attachment for a container comprising, a unitaryrigid strap having an upright portion adapted to bear against the sideof a container, portion of the strap extending laterally from theupright portion and adapted to project over the interior of thecontainer, a handle consisting of the uppermost portion of the strap inthe form of a loop projecting above the laterally extending portion andopening outwardly of the container, at pivoted clamp carried by saidupright member, and manually operable pressure exerting means engagingsaid clamp and operable to move the clamp toward the upright member toclamp the holder to the side of the container.

TRACY H. WARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 810,640 Greener Jan. 23, 19061,024,841 Emery Apr. 30, 1912 1,567,789 Dieke Dec. 29, 1943 2,325,595Dieke Aug. 3, 1943 2,353.555 Gore July 11, 1944

